Primate Ethology, 7.5 credits

Entry requirements

Entry requirement for studies on third-cycle education courses

• second-cycle degree,
• 240 credits in required courses, including at least 60 second-cycle credits, or acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other manner

For this course, additional advanced knowledge in ethology is required (at least 7.5 credits at advanced level).

Specific information

The course is intended for PhD students in animal biology and ethology.

Learning outcomes

• The student will gain an increased understanding of evolutionary origins and ecological factors in primate behavior.
• The student will increase proficiency in finding, evaluating and compiling primary and secondary research literature on a specific topic.
• The student will learn to design and conduct behavioral observations on primate social communication, and if possible also experiments on primate learning. A proper analysis of the data obtained will also be performed.
• The student will improve competence in summarizing and communicating the results of their own experimental results as well as of literature searches in both written and oral form.

Contents

The course is centered around different aspects of primate ethology. Topics include :

• Primate evolution
• Primate social systems
• Primate breeding systems
• Primate cognition
• Intelligence and learning
• Communication with humans
• Altruism and infanticide
• The sensory world of primates

Educational methods

The course is composed of formal lectures, literature assignments, and laboratory exercises. The lectures are intended to give an introduction to the different topics outlined below and serve as a starting point for the student´s assignments. The literature assignments will be performed individually and require the writing of a one-page summary and of giving an oral presentation to all other fellow students. The laboratory exercises will be performed in small groups and require the writing of a lab report using quantitative methods and of an oral presentation. Extra costs due to travelling and living must be paid by the students.

Examination

LAB1Laboratory reports 2,5 hp

UPG1Literature assignments and presentation 2,5 hp

HEM1Written examination 2,5 hp

Grading

Course literature

The course does not follow a specific textbook.

General information

The course is planned and carried out according to what is stated in this syllabus. Course evaluation, analysis and suggestions for improvement should be fed back to the Research and PhD studies Committee (FUN) by the course coordinator.

If the course is withdrawn or is subject to major changes, examination according to this syllabus is normally offered at three occasions within/in close connection to the two following semesters.